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Abstract:

A firing control mechanism for an air-soft toy gun is disclosed for
enabling a user to rotate a switch in selecting a single shot, 3-shot
continuous firing, multi-shot continuous firing or safety lock mode,
having a ratchet wheel pivotally mounted on an axle of the hammer
thereof, which ratchet having two shadow teeth and one deep tooth
arranged in a series around the periphery at one side and sloping teeth
arranged around the periphery at an opposite side. The hammer has a stop
rod meshed with one sloping tooth of the ratchet wheel. During a
continuous 3-shot firing action, the ratchet wheel is rotated following
down stroke of the hammer, and a pawl is meshed with one shadow tooth or
the deep tooth, and the stop rod of the hammer is shifted into mesh with
a next sloping tooth of the ratchet wheel to prohibit reverse rotation of
the ratchet wheel when the hammer is returned after a firing action.

Claims:

1. A firing control mechanism used in an air-soft toy gun, comprising a
bolt, a hammer, a trigger, a switch, a hammer hook, a continuous firing
control rod, said hammer having a hooked portion located on a bottom side
thereof for hooking by said hammer hook and an axle, a ratchet wheel
mounted on said axle of said hammer and rotatable on said axle in one
single direction, said ratchet wheel having at least one series of shadow
and deep teeth arranged around the periphery thereof at one side, each
said series of teeth comprising two shadow teeth and one deep tooth, a
pawl provided at one side of the hammer hook for engaging said ratchet
wheel, said switch comprising a link, said link having at least three
cuts, the position of said at least three cuts being changed relative to
said hammer hook, said pawl and said continuous firing control rod when
said switch is rotated, said hammer hook, said pawl and said continuous
firing control rod each having a bearing portion respectively
controllable to engage one said cut for entering one of single shot
firing mode, 3-shot continuous firing mode, multi-shot continuously
firing mode and safety lock mode;wherein said ratchet wheel has a
plurality of sloping teeth equiangularly arranged around the periphery
thereof at an opposite side relative to said at least one series of
shadow and deep teeth, the number of said sloping teeth being equal to
the total number of the teeth of said at least one series of shadow and
deep teeth; said hammer has a stop rod meshed with one said sloping tooth
of said ratchet wheel, said stop rod of said hammer being shifted into
mesh with a next sloping tooth of said ratchet wheel to prohibit reverse
rotation of said ratchet when said hammer is returned after a forward
rotation subject to a hammering action of said hammer.

2. The firing control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stop
rod extends through said hammer, having a rear end supported on a spring
member at said hammer.

3. The firing control mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hammer
has a locating plate affixed to one side thereof and stopped at one side
of said spring member against the rear end of said stop rod.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001]1. Field of the Invention

[0002]The present invention relates to a toy guns and more particularly,
to a firing control mechanism for toy gun that allows control of
single-shot, 3-shot continuous firings multi-shot continuous firing, or
safety lock mode.

[0003]2. Description of the Related Art

[0004]Regular air-soft guns do not produce an anti-personal force, however
they are designed like a real gun, for example, they have an outer
appearance like a real gun or produce a feedback vibration. With respect
to firing control, an air-soft gun, for example, the design of Taiwan
Patent Publication Number 334844 allows selection of the function of
single-shot, 3-shot continuous firing, multi-shot continuous firing, or
safety lock mode.

[0005]The firing control mechanism according to Taiwan Patent Publication
Number 334844 comprises a bolt, a hammer, a trigger, a hammer hook, a
continuous firing control rod and a switch. The switch is located on one
side of the gun body, having an operation lever. Further, a link is
provided inside the gun body, having a cut to match the operation of the
trigger. The location and width of the cut are determined subject to
actual requirements such as the operation of safety lock, single-shot,
3-shot and multi-shot. Further, ratchet wheel and pawl may be added to
match the hammer hook and continuous firing control rod.

[0006]Further, the hammer and the ratchet wheel are pivotally connected
together by an axle. The ratchet wheel is for rotation in one single
direction, having on its one side two series of teeth each including two
shadow teeth and one deep tooth. By means of forcing the pawl into
engagement with the shadow teeth or deep tooth, 3-shot continuous firing
control function is achieved. However, this design does not teach the way
how to have the ratchet wheel be rotated in one single direction. The
invention has been accomplished to prevent reverse rotation of the
ratchet wheel, assuring positive firing control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007]The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances
in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a firing
control mechanism for air-soft toy gun, which allows selection of single
shot, 3-shot continuous firing, multi-shot continuous firing or safety
lock mode subject to the action of a continuous firing control rod and a
ratchet wheel and effectively prohibits reverse rotation of the ratchet
wheel to assuring positive action of the selected mode.

[0008]To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a firing
control mechanism for air-soft toy gun in accordance with the present
invention comprises a bolt, a hammer, a trigger, a switch, a hammer hook,
a continuous firing control rod, the hammer having a hooked portion
located on the bottom side thereof for hooking by the hammer hook and an
axle, a ratchet wheel mounted on the axle of the hammer for rotation on
the axle in one single direction, the ratchet wheel having at least one
series of shadow and deep teeth arranged around the periphery thereof at
one side, each series of teeth including two shadow teeth and one deep
tooth, a pawl provided at one side of the hammer hook for engaging the
ratchet wheel, the switch comprising a link that has at least three cuts,
the position of the at least three cuts being changed relative to the
hammer hook, the pawl and the continuous firing control rod when the
switch is rotated, the hammer hook, the pawl and the continuous firing
control rod cach having a bearing portion respectively controllable to
engage one cut of the link for entering one of single shot firing mode,
3-shot continuous firing mode, multi-shot continuously firing mode and
safety lock mode. The ratchet wheel has a plurality of sloping teeth
equiangularly arranged around the periphery thereof at an opposite side.
The number of the sloping teeth is equal to the total number of the teeth
of the at least one series of shadow and deep teeth. The hammer has a
stop rod meshed with one sloping tooth of the ratchet wheel. The stop rod
of the hammer is shifted into mesh with a next sloping tooth of the
ratchet wheel to prohibit reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel when said
hammer is returned after a forward rotation subject to a hammering action
of said hammer.

[0009]Further, the stop rod extends through the hammer, having a rear end
supported on a spring member at the hammer.

[0010]Further, the hammer has a locating plate affixed to one side thereof
and stopped at one side of the spring member against the rear end of the
stop rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG, 1 is an exploded view of a firing control mechanism for
air-soft toy gun in accordance with present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the present invention,
showing the operation of the single shot firing mode of the firing
control mechanism.

[0013]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the present invention, showing the
firing control mechanism partially assembled.

[0014]FIG. 4 is another enlarged view of the present invention, showing
the firing control mechanism partially assembled.

[0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the present invention,
showing the stop rod meshed with the ratchet wheel.

[0016]FIGS. 6˜8 illustrate relative positioning between the stop rod
of the hammer and the sloping teeth of the ratchet wheel during hammering
action of the hammer.

[0017]FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing the
structure and positioning of the switch during a single shot firing
operation of the firing control mechanism.

[0018]FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing the
status of the firing control mechanism at the first shot during a
continuous 3-shot firing operation.

[0019]FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing the
structure and positioning, of the switch during a continuous 3-shot
firing operation of the firing control mechanism.

[0020]FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing the
status of the firing control mechanism at the second shot during a
continuous 3-shot firing operation.

[0021]FIG, 13 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing the
status of the firing control mechanism at the third shot during a
continuous 3-shot firing operation.

[0022]FIG. 14 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing the
status of the firing control mechanism during a continuous multi-shot
firing operation.

[0023]FIG. 15 is a schematic drawing of the present invention, showing the
structure and positioning of the switch during a continuous multi-shot
firing operation of the firing control mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024]Referring to FIG. 1, a firing control mechanism 100 for air-soft toy
gun in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a bolt 1
(sec also FIG. 2), a hammer 2, a trigger 3, a switch 4, a hammer hook 5,
and a continuous firing control rod 6 (see also FIG. 2).

[0025]The bolt 1 is mounted in the top side of the gun body 200 and
movable forwards and backwards.

[0026]The hammer 2 is pivotally mounted inside the gun body 200 beneath
the bolt 1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), having a hook portion 21 and an axle 22.
A one-way ratchet wheel 23 is mounted on the axle 22 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and
4). The ratchet wheel 23 has two series of teeth arranged around the
periphery at one side, each series of teeth including two shadow teeth
231 and one deep tooth 232, and a plurality of sloping teeth 233 arranged
around the periphery at an opposite side (see FIGS. 4 and 6˜8). The
number of the sloping teeth 233 is equal to the total number of the
shadow teeth 231 and deep teeth 232. According to the present preferred
embodiment, the ratchet wheel 23 has 6 sloping teeth 233 equiangularly
arranged around the periphery. The hammer 2 has a stop rod 24 connected
thereto. The stop rod 24 has its front end stopped against one sloping
tooth 233 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Further, the ratchet wheel 23 is rotated
with down stroke of the hammer 2 (see FIGS, 6 and 7) and the stop rod 24
is moved into engagement with another sloping teeth 233 after return of
the hammer 2 (sac FIG, 8), prohibiting the ratchet wheel 23 from a
reverse rotation. Further, the stop rod 24 extends through the hammer 2.
Further, a spring member 25 is mounted in the hammer 2 and stopped
between the rear end of the stop rod 24 and a locating plate 26 that is
affixed to one side of the hammer 2. Further, the hammer 2 has a
retaining portion 27 at the top side.

[0028]The switch 4 comprises a handle 41 and a link 42. The link 42 has at
least three cuts 43 (for example, three cuts as shown in FIG. 1). By
means of biasing the handle 41, the direction of the cuts 43 is changed.

[0029]The hammer hook 5 and the trigger 3 are pivotally mounted together
in the gun body 200, having a rear bearing portion 52. Further, a spring
member 51 is set between the holder portion 32 of the trigger 3 and the
hammer hook 5. By means of inserting the rear bearing portion 52 of the
hammer hook 5 into one cut 43 of the switch 4 to release pressure from
the associating spring member 51 (see FIG. 9), the hammer hook 5 can be
hooked on the hooked portion 21 of the hammer 2 (see FIG. 2), and the
trigger 3 can be unlocked for enabling the hammer 2 to be biased,
achieving a single-shot firing.

[0030]Further, a pawl 7 is provided at one side of the hammer hook 5. The
pawl 7 and the trigger 3 are pivotally mounted together in the gun body
200, having a rear bearing portion 71. Further, a spring member 51 is set
between the holder portion 32 of the trigger 3 and the pawl 7. By means
of inserting the rear bearing portion 71 of the pawl 7 into one cut 43 of
the switch 4 to release pressure from the associating spring member 51
(see FIG. 11), the pawl 7 can be hooked on one shadow tooth 231 of the
ratchet wheel 23 (see FIG. 10). At this time, the hammer hook 5 is not
hooked on the hooked portion 21 of the hammer 2, and the continuous
firing control rod 6 has the bearing portion 61 thereof inserted into one
cut 43 of the switch 4 and the top end 62 thereof protruding upwards and
the bottom end 63 thereof secured to the retaining portion 27 of the
hammer 2. When pressing the trigger 3 at this time, a first shot is
fired, and the bolt 1 is forced backwards by the pressure of the
discharged gas to return the hammer 2 for enabling the bottom end 63 to
be secured to the retaining portion 27 of the hammer 2 so that the bolt 1
is pushed forward to fire a second shot (see FIG. 12) and then a third
shot (see FIG. 13). When the third shot is fired, the pawl 7 is forced
into engagement one deep tooth 232 of the ratchet wheel 23, and the
bottom end 63 is kept away from the retaining portion 27 of the hammer 2.
When release the trigger 3 and then press the trigger 3 again at this
time, a next three continuous shots will be fired again.

[0031]As stated above, the continuous firing control rod 6 has the
aforesaid bearing portion 61, top end 62 and bottom end 63. When rotate
the switch 4 to the continuous 3-shot position (as shown in FIG. 11) or
continuous multi-shot position (as shown in FIG. 15), the rear bearing
portion 61 is forced into one cut 43 of the switch 4, and the bottom end
is secured to the retaining portion 27 of the hammer 2 (see FIGS. 10 and
14). When in the continuous multi-shot position, the hammer hook 5 and
the pawl 7 are not retained together (see FIG. 14), and multiple shots
will be continuously fired when pressing the trigger 3 at this time.
Further, when rotating the switch 4 to the safety position, the bearing
portion 61 is kept away from the cuts 43 of the switch 4, and the
continuous firing control rod 6 is free from the action of the bolt 1,
assuring safety locking.

[0032]As stated above, by means of rotating the switch 4 to change the
position of the cuts 42 and forcing the bearing portions 52, 71 or 61 of
the hammer hook 5, pawl 7 or continuous firing control rod 6 in or out of
one cut 43 of the switch 4, the air-soft toy gun is controlled to achieve
a single shot firing, continuous 3-shot firing, multi-shot firing or
safety locking mode. When entering the continuous 3-shot firing mode, the
sloping teeth 233 of the ratchet wheel 23, of which the total number is
equal to the total number of the shadow teeth 231 and deep teeth 232, is
kept in mesh with the stop rod 24 of the hammer 2. The ratchet wheel 23
is rotated following down stroke of the hammer 2. When the hammer 2 is
returned after a firing action, the stop rod 24 is shifted into
engagement with another sloping tooth 233, preventing reverse rotation of
the ratchet wheel 23.

[0033]A prototype of firing control mechanism for toy gun has been
constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜15. The firing control
mechanism for toy gun functions smoothly to provide all of the features
disclosed earlier.

[0034]Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described
in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and
enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as
by the appended claims.